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Harvest Time in Galicia

10 Names to Know in Galician Wine

Galicia is one of Spain’s most exciting wine regions and wine lovers are spoiled with all the options available to them. Located in Spain’s Atlantic Northwest, Galician wines are known for their freshness, with lots of crisp acidity and citrus flavors in the white wines and crunchy red fruit and floral aromas in the reds. Here are ten names to look for on your next trip to the wine shop.

25 Spanish Wine Terms You Need To Know

Cosecha. Joven. Viejo. And the list goes on. Many wine-producing countries use local-language wine-related terminology without realizing their consumers are unaware of their meaning. Even native language speakers are sometimes confused by these terms as they are technical and/or relate to wine law. No need to worry! Below is your very own Spanish Wine Glossary (in alphabetical order) providing the top 25 wine terms you need-to-know to navigate Spanish wine.
84-year-old Garnacha Vines - Campo de Borja

A Journey Around Some Of Spain's Oldest Vines

Home to some of the world’s oldest productive vines – there are Albariño vines in DO Rías Baixas that have been producing grapes for over 200 years - Spain is also believed to be home to more hectares of old vines than any other country.
A View from the Vineyard, Jerez.

Adjusting aesthetic horizons from the champaigns of Jerez

This article has been published in partnership with World of Fine Wine and Wine Scholar Guild.  A shocking red wine from the Jerezano new wave. Andrew Jefford tastes 2020 Annius Atlántida Vino de la Tierra de Cádiz.

Amy Karasavas, SWS

Congratulations to Amy Karasavas, SWS, for passing the Spanish Wine Scholar exam with highest honors! About Amy: Wine was a passion well before it was a profession. In 2018, I took the plunge and became a certified sommelier with the Sommelier Society of America. Soon
Green vineyard in Castilla y León wine region, Spain
DO Bierzo

Beyond Tempranillo: The Hidden Grapes of Castilla y León

Castilla y León is one of Spain’s most significant regions and the cradle of the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabel. It boasts more than 60 of Spain’s heritage sites including over 500 castles, 12 cathedrals and eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is also home to Vega Sicilia, one of the world’s most iconic wine brands.

Beyond The Textbook: Galicia

Summary Welcome to this month's 'Beyond The Textbook' WSG Live! In this series we explore all the latest trends, developments and talking points in the major wine regions of France, Spain & Italy with unique insights from the best of the world's regional experts. This month we're delighted to be joined by leading Galician wine expert Noah Chichester to get us up to speed with all the latest goings-on across the region. Galicia has five unique DOs, each with

Cataluña: Exploring New Frontiers

Summary: Cataluña is one of Spain’s most historically-rich and progressive wine regions. But how well do you know the wines of Cataluña outside of Priorat or Cava? From the majestic Pyrenees mountains to the sun-drenched coastlines of the Mediterranean, the 12 Catalan wine regions serve to highlight the tremendous diversity of the region.   Join Rick Fisher and Ferran Centelles as they introduce Cataluña’s wine regions and highlight what makes these

Catalunya, Xarel·lo and Unmissable Wines: Q&A with Ferran Centelles

Ferran Adrià’s legendary restaurant El Bulli defined modernist cuisine. The restaurant had an undeniable influence on haute cuisine trends both in Spain and across the globe. For 13 years, its wine programme was led by sommelier Ferran Centelles. Ferran continues to work with Adrià at the elBullifoundation, a creativity centre of culinary and wine-focused scholarship that was created in 2011 after the restaurant’s closure.  

Discover our newest study & certification program

After nearly two years of hard work, we are thrilled to present the Wine Scholar Guild’s latest certification course… The Spanish Wine Scholar® (SWS) Program! The program officially launches in October of 2019, but it is already garnering significant attention around the globe.

Federico Lleonart, SWS

Congratulations to Federico Lleonart, SWS, for passing the Spanish Wine Scholarexam with highest honors! About Federico: I’m a wine professional with over 20-year experience. Originally from Argentina, I’ve worked in the hospitality business for a decade as a Somm and

Fine Wine from Lesser Known Regions in Spain

Summary For decades, Spanish fine wine had been relegated to a handful of producers in Rioja and Ribera del Duero. Today, visionaries have sprung in regions that were hitherto thought of as mere bulk wine areas or just never capable of producing anything worth a detour. Join Álvaro in this webinar in which we will discover some of the most exciting regions in Spain, producing wines to fill any wine geek's
Ribera del Duero

From Obscurity to Opulence: Ribera del Duero’s Remarkable Rise in the Spanish Wine World

Over its 42-year existence as a Denominación de Origen (DO), Ribera del Duero has transformed from a relatively unknown region to one of Spain’s most prestigious wine-producing areas.

Godello in Valdeorras

Summary Often described as Galicia's 'second' great white grape, Godello is capable of crafting some extraordinarily complex, textural wines, with a great capacity for ageing. Currently this variety is enjoying a moment in the sun amidst a surge in popularity, particularly in its spiritual home of Valdeorras. But this hasn't always been the case - 50 years ago this variety was almost completely extinct. In this interview, Justin catches up with Galician expert Noah Chichester to

How legislation can help save old vine heritage: The case of Spain

Summary Spain has the largest area under vine of any country in the world, with around a third of vines planted prior to 1990, and centuries-old vines still producing fruit in many regions. But the last 30 years have seen many heritage vineyards grubbed up and replanted with higher yielding clones in areas that are easier to mechanize. This is added to the ongoing issue of rural depopulation, with elderly vine growers often retiring

INTERVIEW: Jörg Philipp from Degustar (Stuttgart, Germany)

Meet Jörg Philipp, founder of Degustar in Stuttgart, first wine school to offer our brand new Spanish Wine Scholar® program in Germany! Your company, Degustar, is based in Stuttgart, Germany but you also work in Shanghai, China. Can you please summarize all the activities offered by Degustar in Germany and in China?

Is Sherry at Risk?

Sherry producers like to say they deal with two types of terroir. “First,” says Fermin Hidalgo, owner of leading Sanlúcar de Barrameda-based Bodegas Hidalgo La Gitana, “the ‘classic’ terroir we all know: climate, soil, etc. The second terroir is the one related to the wineries… Biological ageing is part of our terroir.”

James Faulds, SWS

Congratulations to James Faulds, SWS, for passing the Spanish Wine Scholar exam with highest honors! About James: I am a wine enthusiast hoping to combine my love of cooking and wine. Seeking education in wine seemed a logical step to me as wine and food paired well can

Live Preview | SWS with Rick Fisher (RECORDING)

Watch the Preview of the Spanish Wine Scholar Program, with Rick Fisher, Spanish Programs Director

Max Branco Rossmark Schramm, SWS

Congratulations to Max Branco Rossmark Schramm, SWS, for achieving highest honors in the Spanish Wine Scholar exam with Celebrare, Brazil. About Max: I am 26 years old and I’m a Civil Engineer. I ended up in the alcoholic beverages’ world through beer. My brother

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